Last updated: 2026-03-05

Tourist vs Architect: A Practical Guide to Sales Leadership Hiring

By Jon Eyers — Sales Leadership Headhunter | VP Sales, Directors & CRO’s for VC & PE-Backed Tech | UK, Europe & US

A practical, field-tested guide that helps hiring teams distinguish true sales leadership from surface-level storytelling. Learn how to write a valuable brief, evaluate candidates by real decisions and proven impact, and ask a decisive reference-question that reveals true capability. This guide accelerates hiring, reduces mis-hires, and enables you to recruit a sales leader who can drive growth in new contexts.

Published: 2026-03-05

Primary Outcome

Identify and hire a true sales leader by distinguishing Architects from Tourists using a practical, proven framework.

Who This Is For

What You'll Learn

Prerequisites

About the Creator

Jon Eyers — Sales Leadership Headhunter | VP Sales, Directors & CRO’s for VC & PE-Backed Tech | UK, Europe & US

LinkedIn Profile

FAQ

What is "Tourist vs Architect: A Practical Guide to Sales Leadership Hiring"?

A practical, field-tested guide that helps hiring teams distinguish true sales leadership from surface-level storytelling. Learn how to write a valuable brief, evaluate candidates by real decisions and proven impact, and ask a decisive reference-question that reveals true capability. This guide accelerates hiring, reduces mis-hires, and enables you to recruit a sales leader who can drive growth in new contexts.

Who created this playbook?

Created by Jon Eyers, Sales Leadership Headhunter | VP Sales, Directors & CRO’s for VC & PE-Backed Tech | UK, Europe & US.

Who is this playbook for?

Founders hiring senior sales leaders (VP/Head of Sales) seeking to avoid costly mis-hires, Hiring managers at growth-stage startups evaluating candidates for sales leadership roles, Recruiters and executive coaches needing a structured framework to assess leadership impact and decision-making

What are the prerequisites?

Basic understanding of sales processes. Access to CRM tools. 1–2 hours per week.

What's included?

Distinguish Architects from Tourists with a practical framework. Structured hiring criteria focused on decisions and impact. One decisive reference-check question that reveals true capability

How much does it cost?

$0.15.

Tags

Related Sales Playbooks

Browse all Sales playbooks